← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
I propose to develope novel metamaterial silicon half wave plates and antireflection coatings for use in cosmic microwave background observations. These new HWPs and AR coatings will have lower loss and broader bandwidth than conventional sapphire hwps or other AR coatings. These coatings will designed using computer simulations including commercial high frequency finite element analysis software. They will be fabricated using our custom three axis dicing saw here at the University of Michigan, and they will be deployed in the field on ACTPol and the PIPER balloon. Together, these new technologies will allow for unambiguys detection of primordial gravitational waves.
These new technologies will allow for unambiguous detection of primordial gravitational waves.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.